With the diversity of the cultural aspects of our weddings, it’s difficult to pinpoint an exact wedding photography timeline template. However, there are ideal time frames you should consider when planning your day. Some of these times may seem long on paper but keep in mind that: the day will fly by, most weddings run slightly behind schedule, and we’ll make these photo sessions fun, so it won’t seem like a long time. We recommend arrive to your room (at least) 2 hours before the ceremony to start your wedding day coverage and complete this detailed preparation process.

Accesories: Dress, Rings, Shoes, Bouquet

* Advice – Having at least 30 minutes for details ensures that we have plenty of time to get that perfect photo of the dress, rings, shoes, bouquets, and the other details of the day. There are times when a hotel room is too crowded or simply unappealing; we have to take the dress all the way down to the lobby or even outside. This can take some time, but as you can see from the results, it’s well worth the additional work.

Preparation

* Advice – Having 45 minutes to an hour of preparation is ideal for our style. During this time, we are getting close ups of the makeup and hair being applied as well as the candid moments and the bridesmaids and groomsmen get ready for the day. Keep in mind that these are some of the most emotional and fun times of the day, so you don’t want to cut it short. The lead shooter will be with the bride while the second shooter (if hired) will be with the groom. While it doesn’t take guys an hour to get dressed, there are still tons of great moments during this time between the groom and his family and friends.

Individual Portraits

* Advice – Right after prep is the best time for individual portraits of the bride and groom (separately). Besides makeup and hair being completely fresh, the day hasn’t gotten hectic yet so we can take our time and get those perfect portraits. Also, keep in mind that the window lighting in most hotel rooms creates a unique look that can’t be duplicated in any environment throughout the rest of the day.

Inmediate Family

* Advice – Immediate Family Photos should take another 15-20 minutes. It’s important to have additional images with your parents, grandparents, and siblings beyond the basic formal (mentioned in the section below).

We all know how much weddings mean to the immediate family, and we want to make sure we’re capturing enough pictures with them.

First Look & Couples Daytime pictures

* Advice – The first look should be 1 hour before the ceremony and it should last around 30 to 45 minutes. That being said, if you want to do the first look, we have to arrive 3 hours before the ceremony time to where you're getting ready. During the first look time, the bride and groom enjoy seeing each other for the first time on the wedding day. While the actual first look might only be 5-10 minutes, the rest of the time is spent on a few basic portraits of the bride and groom. Ideally we are saving the bulk of the couples session for later (see the “couples session” section below). However, if there is no other time in the day, it is best to allocate another 45 minutes to an hour here so that we make sure we have enough photos of just you two. For more information check What is a first look and why should I do it?

Ceremony details

* Advice – Please allow 10-15 minutes for the second shooter to take pictures of the ceremony site, completely set up with no guests or vendors in the area. Before you have the guests seated, it’s important that we are there to capture the complete set up of your ceremony site so we can capture the scene at its best.

Formals (Immediate & extended family and friends)

* Advice – Keep it simple. Have a minimum of pictures for this moment including: complete wedding party, Maid of Honor & Bets Man, immediate Bride's Family, immediate Groom's Family, Grandparents (if available). We also recommend being very organized, with a list of groups and helpers from each side of the family to help round people up. The wedding planner also can help with this task.

Couple's Session

* Advice – Couple session should be around 1 hour and should take place ideally 30 to 45 minutes before sunset (depending on ceremony time). The is the best time in terms of lighting. It also allows us to capture the awesome scenic shots with colorful skies. If you booked your venue because of the spectacular view of the ocean and sunsets, it’s essential to follow this advice in your timeline.

Reception Details and Venue

* Advice – Please allow 15-20 minutes for us to take pictures of the reception room, completely set up with no guests or vendors in the area. Similar to the ceremony details, this is the only opportunity we have to capture the beauty of the reception room prior to guest arrival.

Other Photos to have in mind

Table Shots – Table shots are when you go around visiting tables. There are two options for photography during this time. (1) You can take formal pictures with each of these tables or (2) we can simply focus on photojournalism, capturing the smiles and hugs as you mingle with each table. We recommend the second option so you can keep enjoying your reception.